your approval of the serious consequences which that action involves.

Those consequences are concisely set forth in a memorandum addressed by me to the Waste Lands Board, a copy of which is forwarded herewith, as also the Chief Surveyor’s Report as to the quality of the land referred to.

I need scarcely say that the result of the Board’s action will have a most injurious effect upon the labor market during the ensuing winter, if indeed it does not throw thousands of men out of employment.

The Provincial Executive, charged as it is with the peace, order, and good government of this portion of the colony, has a right to expect the support of the Colonial Government; as it is, it cannot but feel that it is not only receiving scant aid from, but that it is being thwarted by the Colonial Executive.

You say that “the plan by which the application was confined to the leaseholders was one which must be disapproved by any person who believes that the law should be administered in accordance with its spirit and intention as well as with its letter.”

As to this, I can only say that the “plan” was precisely the same verbatim et literatim as has been adopted in similar cases for years past. Indeed, if I mistake not, it was first adopted when the present Premier was at the head of the Provincial Executive. I refer you to no less than eighteen proclamations—as per foot—in proof of this assertion, from which it will be perceived that the power of application is not confined to the leaseholder.

I may say further that there is good reason to believe that the applicants in question would have preferred that the land should have been put up to auction under Section 150 Otago Waste Lands Act, in which case there can be little doubt but they would have become the purchasers at ten shillings an acre.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

J. MACANDREW,

Superintendent of Otago.

The Honorable,

The Colonial Secretary,

Wellington.

Provincial Government Gazette.

PROCLAMATION

Fixing amount of License Fee to be paid by every person taking out a license to kill cock pheasants during the months of June and July, 1876.

By His Honor James Macandrew, Esquire, Superintendent of the Province of Otago.

WHEREAS by Section 17th of the “Protection of Animals Act, 1873,” it is provided that every license to take, kill, or pursue game shall be in the form in the second Schedule to this Act, and shall be issued by the Superintendent of the Province in which the person requiring the same shall reside or desire to exercise such license, upon payment of such sum, not exceeding fifty shillings, as may be fixed from time to time by the Superintendent by notification in the Provincial Government Gazette, to the Treasurer of such Province, and shall be signed by the Superintendent or Treasurer, and dated on the day when the same was actually issued, and shall be in force during the period specified in the license:

Now, therefore I, James Macandrew, Superintendent of the Province of Otago, in exercise of the powers and authority vested in me by the said section and every other power and authority enabling me in this behalf, do hereby proclaim and declare that the sum of thirty shillings shall be paid to the Provincial Treasurer by every person obtaining a license in the form in the second Schedule to the above Act, entitling such person to take, kill, or pursue cock pheasants, between the hours of sunrise and sunset, during the season of the months of June and July, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, within all that area lying between the Waitaki River and Catlin’s River, and ten miles back from the sea coast.

Given under my hand, and issued under the public seal of the Province of Otago, this 16th day of May, 1876.

(L.S.) J. MACANDREW,

Superintendent of Otago.

PROCLAMATION

Setting apart 1,400 Acres of Land in the Tapanui Hundred for occupation on deferred payments.

By His Honor James Macandrew, Esquire, Superintendent of the Province of Otago.

WHEREAS by the 47th section of the Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand, intituled “The Otago Waste Lands Acts, 1872,” it is enacted that it shall be lawful for the Superintendent, with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council, to set apart in any part of the Province, districts or blocks of land within which licenses to occupy land and leases thereof on deferred payments may be granted either exclusively or within which the land shall be open for license or lease on deferred payment, or for sale on immediate payment:

And whereas the Provincial Council of the Province of Otago has recommended the Superintendent of the said Province to let apart the lands hereinafter specified for alienation on deferred payments.

Now, therefore I, James Macandrew, Superintendent of the Province of Otago, by and with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council aforesaid, do hereby, by virtue and in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by “The Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872,” and of every or any power in this behalf enabling me, proclaim, declare, and set apart all those sections numbered respectively 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, and 14, Block XII, Crookston Survey District, will be open on the 19th day of June, 1876, for application for license and lease, on deferred payment, as provided in the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872.

Given under my hand, and issued under the public seal of the Province of Otago, this sixteenth day of May, 1876.

JAMES MACANDREW,

Superintendent of Otago.

PROCLAMATION

Setting apart 5,766 Acres of Land in the Forest Hill Hundred, for occupation on deferred payments.

By His Honor James Macandrew, Esquire, Superintendent of the Province of Otago.

WHEREAS by the 47th section of the Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand, intituled “The Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872,” it is enacted that it shall be lawful for the Superintendent, with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council, to set apart in any part of the Province, districts or blocks of land within which licenses to occupy land and leases thereof on deferred payments may be granted either exclusively or within which the land shall be open for license or lease on deferred payment.